Combined switch and circuit breaker



Oct'. 9, 1934. w. s. MAYER 1,975,901

COMBINED SWITCH AND CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 31, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet l m fnsahzf'on/ I 6 0 2a 91 91 1m 8:16 :65 51 Q 15 FIG: JIZ

INVENTOR. JCT. A. I 61 Oct. 9, 1934. w a A R 1,975,901

COMBINED SWITCH AND CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 51, 1932. 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

0611.,9, 1934. w s MAYER 1,975,901

COMBINED SWITCH AND CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 31, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG XVI.

125 I i FIGTXIX. 4 4 M1,! I I 1 I /zz9 m %130 I: i: I i I c v I w J 126' 125 12% 123 132 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE My invention relates to electrical switches of the automatic type and for use with either direct or alternating current.

An object of the invention is to provide an I electrical switch or circuit breaker which shall be simple in construction, capable of preventing the operator from fully closing or holding the switch closed during the existence or continuance of a predetermined electrical condition in a circuit, and one that is fully enclosed by an insulated casing, so that the operator can not touch the live parts while in circuit.

Another object of my invention is to provide automatic delayed time actuation of the device on small abnormal circuit conditions, in combination with automatic instantaneous actuation on short circuit conditions, or large abnormal-circuit conditions.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device which has electrodes or terminals of the knife blade, or ferrule types, or equivalent, that can be inserted in standard National Electric Code fuse clips or the like, similar to the commercial fuse, and having combinations of construction which permit the device being made in such sizes that its lengthsmay be made to correspond to the lengths of the various N. N. Code fuses. Hence my device is removably interchangeable with the commercial fuse.

The arrangement of my terminals also permit lugs being attached thereto, so that line wire connections can be made, when it is desired not to insert the device in fuse clips, as for instance when it is permanently secured to a panel or the like, and securing means thereof, is provided as herein fully described.

Another object of my invention, is to provide a combined switch and circuit breaker having a rectilinearly reciprocable symmetrical switch element which operatively bridges the contacts of terminals adapted to engage fuse clips or the like, all in substantially vertical alignment, and which switch element moves substantially transversely or at right angles to said alignment, and the switch element in the open position to be entirely disconnected electrically from the terminals, so as to give a double break, and thus permit circuit connections without regard to line or load side w of the circuit.

My device is symmetrical, reversible, interchangeable, and operable in any position. The unique combination of the switch element of my device, permits laminated contacts with auxiliary carbon shunts to be used, and hence the resilient contact pressure thereof, assists to open the breaker under predetermined conditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide contacts which form a loopor coil and envelop the core of a U shaped high permeable member to produce a magnetic blow out for extinguishing the arc, incident upon opening the circuit under circuit conditions, by diverting the arc flashes laterally outward through the relief apertures in the walls of the casing.

Another object of my invention is to utilize the induced magnetic action by the bridge element, in the uprights which guide said bridge element and support the operating mechanism, for attracting an armature on heavy abnormal circuit conditions, to trip the trigger or the like, and allow the bridge element to open the electrical circuit. The uprights and outer bearing pillar and collar, being made of steel, form a U shape magnet, by reason of the bridge element passing thru the inside thereof, and there is enough magnetism induced therein on heavy abnormal circuit conditions to attract the armature for the aforesaid reasons. Thus, it is not necessary to provide an auxiliary solenoid for this purpose.

Another object of my invention is to provide a gripping means for withdrawing the device, as a whole, from the fuse clips which they engage.

A further object is to provide manual as well as selective time automatic means for opening the circuit breaker, and also means for effecting a quick manual as well as automatic, breaking action.

In my Patent No. 1,188,966, dated June 27, 1916, the bridging member is tubular shaped, making a frictional wiping contact with the terminal contacts, and moves longitudinally with the alignment. The aforesaid friction retards the operation, and the general combination does not permit blow outs, selective time operation, quick manual operation, nor high current carrying capacity, and no means are provided for line connections when not engaged with the fuse clips. There is also the absence of arcing shunts to prevent burning of the contacting surfaces, or to prevent the freezing of the contacting surfaces together, so to speak, and also the combination and construction shown in the aforesaid patent is congested and inaccessible. All of these objections and difficulties are overcome in my new invention herein submitted.

My present invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and pointed out in the detailed description, the drawings, and the appended claims. Referring to the drawings:

Fig. I shows a vertical sectional view ofv my improved circuit breaker taken on the line I-I of Fig. II.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken on the line IIII of Fig. I with the cover component of the casing of the circuit breaker removed.

Fig. m is a sectibnal view taken on the line IIII1I of Fig. I.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary detail sectional view taken on the line IV-IV of Fig. I.

Fig. V shows the bottom end view of the circuit breaker. r

Fig. VI is a cross sectional view taken on the line VIVI of Fig. I.

Fig. VII is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. V, and illustrating an important feature of my invention.

Fig. VIII is a detail sectional view taken as indicated by the arrows VIII-VIII in Fig. VII.

Fig. IX is a perspective view of one of the bridge guiding members embodied in the circuit breaker.

Fig. X is a perspective view of the carriage of the contact bridging element of the circuit breaker.

Fig. XI is a perspective view of the slide which carries the latch member by which'the bridge element is normally held in closed position.

Fig. XII is a perspective view of the latch member.

Fig. XIII is a perspective view of a thermic element which is relied upon to trip the circuit breaker under small abnormal circuit conditions.

Fig. XIV is a fragmentary detail view showing a modified form of means for operating the circuit breaker manually.

Fig. XV is a sectional view similar to Fig. I

except that a triple toggle latching mechanism is substituted instead of the trigger latching" mechanism as further described.

Fig. XVI is a view of Fig. XV taken as in Fig. III except the armature is not shown.

Fig. XVII is an end view of Fig. XV showing the ferrule terminal.

Fig. XVIII is a similar view with the terminal lug 134 attached inside the counterbored cylindrical terminal. N

Fig. XIX is a section of Fig. XVIII showing the line wires attached to the lug 134.

With more specific reference first to Figs. I, II, III, V, and VI, my improved circuit breaker comprises a vertically-elongated longitudinallyv splitibox-like casing 15 which is preferably of molded dielectric composition and which encloses the working parts later on individually referred to. As shown a base component 16 and a cover component 17 of the casing meet in a rabbetted juncture 18 whereby the two are held in perfect alignment and registry. The cover component 1'7 is removably secured by screws 19 which pass through the openings in its side walls into internally-threaded metallic bushings 20 embedded in the side walls of the base component 16, see- Fig. VI. Lodged within recesses 22 and 23 externally of the upper and lower end of the base component 16 are copper terminals 24 and 25 which are respectively formed with knife blade projections 26 and 27 capable of engagement with fuse clips or the like on a switch or in-' strument panel. With the provisions above described, my breaker may obviously be used in place of an ordinary cartridge fuse. To facilitate application and removal of the breaker when the the circuit breaker, the base component 16 of the:

casing 15 is secured to the switch board or panel by means of screws or bolts and counterbored holes are provided for the passage of the screws or bolts in its side walls as shown at 31 in Fig. II.

In Fig. I it will be observed that the terminals 24, 25 are secured by screw bolts 32, and 33, 34 respectively, which bolts extend through openings in the inset portions of the back wall of the base component 16 to the interior of the casing 15 where they are respectively fitted with clamp nuts 35, and 36, 3'7. Overlaid upon the angle of the recessed upper and lower portions of the back wall of the base component 16 of the casing 15, are correspondingly configured contact pieces 38 and 39 which have their horizontal extremities pierced for passage of the securing screw bolts 32,33, 34 respectively. The vertical extremities of these contact pieces 38 and 39 provide abutment faces for the bridging element 40 of the circuit breaker, and as shown, are retroverted at 41 and 42 to respectively embrace the transverse or core portions of the U shaped blow-out magnets 43, 44. The parallel sides 43a and 44a of each of the blow-out magnets 43 and 44, respectively, extend in the direction of the movement of the bridging element. The blow-out magnets 43 and 44 are secured, with interposition'of the U shapedshields 45, 46 of insulating material,

to contact pieces 38 and 39. Thepurpose .of the shields 45 and 46 is to protect the magnets 43 and 44 from the eifects of the arc which is attendant .upon either the manualor the automatic opening of the circuit breaker; while said magnets serve to divert the arc flashes laterally outwardly of the casing 15 through the relief apertures 1 member 49 are formed with outwardly bent lugs 62, 63 for engaging longitudinal slots 64 of a pair of bracket-like guides 65, 66 whereof but one bracket-like guide is illustrated in perspective in Fig. IX.

These guides 65, 66are constructed from sheet iron or other magnetic material, and as shown in Figs. I and III, are secured in spaced relation within the central hollow 67 of the casing '15, by

'means of screws 68, 69 which pass through the back wall of the base component 16 and through the flanges 70, 71 of each of the guides. It will be further noted in Figs. I and III that the guides 65, 66 extend forwardly into the cover component of the casing 15 and that they are connected together, at their front'ends, by a cross pin 72 that is, also, comprised of magnetic material. Ex

tending transversely between the side portions of 156 the slide member 49 is a pin 73 of non-magnetic material. Rollers 74 and a central spacing sleeve 75 are mounted upon the pin 73. Between the sleeve 75 and the spacing sleeve 76 on the cross pin 73 connecting the guides 65, 66, extends a tension spring 77 that tends to draw the bridging element away from the contacts 38 and 39.

The means provided for normally holding the bridging member 40 in closed circuit position in opposition to the spring 77 has the form of a trigger latch 78 which is illustrated in perspective in Fig. XII. As shown, the trigger latch embodies a pair of spaced metallic side pieces 79, 79A with hooks 80 at one end and tails 81 at the other end that are joined by a cross connecting piece 82 of insulation formed with a rounded traverse rib 83. The side pieces of the trigger latch 78 are further formed with arcuate arms 84 that extend close to and in the same plane as the hooks 80 and the arms are pierced as at 85 for pivotal mounting of the trigger latch 78 on a nonmagnetic cross pin 86 carried by a non-magnetic slide block 87 which slide block is shown in Fig. XI. The slide block 87 has its ends squared to non-rotatably engage the slots 64 of the guides 65, 66 and the slide block is to therear of the slide 49 of the bridging element 40. The recessed portion of the slide block limits the movement of the trigger 78.

The two guides 65, 66, in conjunction with the pin 72 and collar 76 that connect their upper ends, constitute a U shaped magnet by reason of the bridging element 40 passing thru the inside thereof, and in the event of sudden and excessive abnormal circuit condition of the circuit in which the breaker is connected, attracts the iron armature 88.

As shown this armature 88 is riveted to a brass saddle 89 which is pivotally mounted about a non-magnetic pin 90 extending through the guides 65, 66 adjacent the flanged ends of the latter.

Normally the armature 88 is maintained retracted away from the guides 65, 66 by means of springs 91, 91a, shown in Figs. I and III. As the armature is attracted under the conditions referred to, it strikes the curved extremities 84 of the trigger latch 78 whereby the latter is swung clockwise in Fig. I and its hook extremities disengaged from the rollers 74 that are mounted on the cross pin 73 of the slide 49. As a consequence, the bridging element 40 is rapidly withdrawn by the spring 77 to an open circuit position away from the contacts 38, 39. Incident to the foregoing it will be seen from Fig. I that the laminated brushes 56, 57 first leave the contacts 38, 39 so that the arcs may be taken, as already the thermic element 92 are pierced for the projection therethrough of -"the screw bolts 33 and 34 previously referred to. From Fig. IV it will be observed that the end 93 of the thermic element is in metallic contact with a washer 95 interposed between it and a plate96 immediately beneath the nuts 36, 37 respectively on the screw bolts 33, 34, but insulated from the contact member 39 by an interposed fiber washer 97 and bushing 98. The other end of the thermic element 92 is, on the other hand, engaged between an insulating washer 99 and a metallic spacing washer 100. The element 92, the insulating washer 99 and the spacing washer 100 are interposed between the plate 96 and the contact 39 respectively. A fiber bushing 101 serves, in conjunction with the fiber washer 99, to insulate the end 94 of the thermic element 92 from the contact 39 as well as from the screw bolt 34. The flow of the electric current through the thermic element 92 is thus in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. IV, that is to say, from the terminal 25 and screw bolts 33, 34, through the metallic. plate 96, and metallic spacing washer 95, then upward through the end 93 then downward through the end 94 and finally to the contact 39 by way of the metallic spacing washer 100. Thus, with the persistence of a slight abnormal circuit condition, the thermic element 92 is gradually heated, and in expanding exerts a force upwardly which oscillates or trips the trigger latch 78, whereby the bridging element is released to the action of the spring 77 and withdrawn from engagement with the contacts 38 and 39 to open the circuit through the breaker.

For manually opening and closing the circuit breaker I have devised means including a finger lever 102 which is mounted for rocking movement about the pin 72 as a bearing, the pin 72 connects the ends of the guides 65, 66. As shown in Fig. III, the actuating lever 102 comprises a metallic yoke 103 whereof the angularly directed extremities 104 are pierced to engage over the 1 ends of the pin 72. Thetransverse bar or yoke 103 is rigidly embedded in a crescent shaped head 105 molded from dielectric composition with an apertured grasp projection 106. As shown in Fig. I, the outer curvature of the head 105 of 105 of the actuating lever 102 contact with opposite sides of the guides 65, 66 which operate as stops to limit the extent through which said lever may be swung. As further shown in Figs. I and III, the extremities 104 of the yoke 103 of the actuating lever 102 have pivotally connected to them at 108, links 109 which in turn are pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the pin 86 of the slide block 87 carrying the trigger latch 78.

Together with the extremities 104 of the yoke 103, the links 109 function as a toggle connection between the trigger latch slide block 87- and the actuating lever 102, whereof the pivots 108 are normally above center with the circuit breaker closed as in Fig. I. Springs 110 tend to swing the actuating lever 102 upward about the pin 72 to off position, but the effect of these springs is overcome by the stronger spring 77 which operates to maintain the toggle connections 104, 109 cocked. However, upon tripping of the trigger latch 78 with the attendant elimination of the effect of the spring 77 as a factor, the actuating lever is swung upward to "off position by the weaker springs 110, whereby the toggle connections 104, 109 are upset and the slide block 87 is automatically moved forward for reengagement of the hooks 80 of the trigger latch with the rollers 74 on the pin 73 of the bridging element slide 49. Such re-engagement of the hooks is facilitated through cooperation, with the rollers '74, of the sloping cam edges 111 of the hooks 80, and under the yielding action of the spring 87a, which latter influences the trigger latch '78..

A noteworthy feature of the operating arrangement which has been just described, is that it is incapable of preventing automatic opening of the breaker by abnormal circuit conditions, notwithstanding holding of the actuating lever 102 in the down or on position. Due to the fact that, as shown in Fig. 1, the actuating lever 106 and consequently the bridge may be manually moved slowly to the open position. I prefer the modification shown in Fig. EV in which the actuating lever 102a (similar in shape to 102) has a U shaped lever 103a embeddedrigidly in it, which trunnions on pin '72. The operating lever 112 is U shaped with a cross yoke 113 which acts as a stop on the brackets 65, 66. Links 109a are thesame as 109, heretofore described. The lever 112 has extensions 114, and also trunnions as a whole on the bearing pin 72. In the act of closing, the detent of the actuating lever, presses against the yoke 113 to move the lever 112 and links 109a to the closed passed dead center position. In the act of manually opening the actuating lever 102a is free to move around on the bearing pin 72 until almost in the full open position, when the portion 105 presses against the projections 114 and gives it an initial start to break the toggle action of 112 and 109a. Thus the main spring pulls the bridge to the open circuit position, with a quick and rapid ,action. Spring 110 of Fig. XIV performs similar as in Fig. I.

It will be noted that instead of the trigger latching mechanism shown in Fig. 1 and applying thereto, a triple toggle latching mechanism may be substituted, as shown in Fig. XV. Also ferrule terminals are readily substituted instead of the knife blade terminals, as shown in Fig. XV,

. which is otherwise similar to Fig. I. The actuating lever 121 is similar to 102 except the yoke extremities 122 are positioned inside the uprights and pivotally attached to a link formed member 123, having a cross yoke 124 which acts as a stop to limit its dead center relationship in connection with the parallel link structure 125. The link structure 125' pivots to 123 at 126 and also to the bridge element at 127. The bridge element is otherwise similar to bridge element 40. The bushings 128 and 129 provide a spaced relation for the link structure 125. An insulating cylinder 130 is rivete'd to the link structure asshown and is pressed clockwise by the bi-metallic strip 92 on a small abnormal circuit condition to break the toggle alignment of the member 123 and the link structure 125 whiph allows the bridge element to be pulled to open circuit position by the spring 132, regardless as to whether the operating lever 121 is manually held or not. The armature 88 strikes the projection 131 of the link structure for a similar purpose as hereinbefore described upon large abnormal circuitconditions. It will be noted that the spring 132 has a similar function as spring '17.

w Each of the ferrule terminals 133 consists of a counterbored cylinder of conducting metal, and each terminal is held to the base component by a bolt and anut as shown in Fig. 1. The contact pieces, blow out magnets, contact brushes, etc., are substantially the same as those shown in Fig. 1.

Specific characteristics and claims of the trigger" and toggle" latching mechanisms appear in my Patent No. 1,887,274, granted November 8,

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 1. In a circuit breaker, a movable bridging ele-' ment, restraining means for the movable bridgbreaker and switching device enclosed in-a hol-.

low casing of dielectric material, vertically aligned recesses external to the casing,-terminals secured in said recesses, said terminals being adapted to engage fuse clips or the like, spaced contacts within the casing electrically connected to said terminals, a movable bridging element within the casing for making and breaking electrical connection between said contacts, a substantially U shaped magnet enveloping the bridging element, an operating lever pivoted to the said magnet for reciprocally moving the bridging element substantially at right angles to the terminals, restraining means for the bridging element, and an armature for attraction to the ma net legs to release the restraining means, upon abnormal circuit conditions in the bridging element.

3. In a circuit breaker having spaced contacts, bridging mechanism including a movable bridging element for making and breaking an electrical connection between said contacts, a substantially U shaped magnet enveloping the bridging element, means for restraining 'the bridging element in closed circuit position, an actuating lever pivoted to the said magnet for manually currence of abnormalcircuit conditions, and a thermic element connected to one contactand' adapted to release the restraining means upon the occurrence of continuous abnormal circuit conditions. a

5. In a circuit breaker, a movable bridging ,and closing the bridging element, and an arma- ,gture pivoted between the open legs of said magnet {to release the restraining means upon the ocelement, means for restraining movable bridging element, an open circuit magnet enveloping the bridging element, an actuating lever pivotally mounted upon the magnet for manually operating the circuit breaker, and a movable armature connected in the open magnetic circuit and upon abnormal circuit conditions in'the movable bridging element said armature moves to release the restraining means;

6. In a circuit breaker having terminal con tacts; a bridging element cooperative with the contacts; means for normally holding the bridging element in closed circuit position; an armature associated with the means for.normally' holding the bridging element in closed circuit position; and an open circuit magnet for guiding the bridging element in its movement toward and away from'the contacts and capable, upon sudden abnormal circuit condition of attracting the armature to efiect tripping of the means for holding the bridging element in closed circuit position in order to open the circuit.

,7. In a circuit breaker having in combination spaced contacts, a bridging member cooperative with said contacts, means for manually operating said bridging member, a latch for holding the bridging members against the said contacts in a closed circuit position, means for guiding the bridging member and latch in a direction substantially at right angles to the alignment of the spaced contact, means tending to withdraw the bridging member from closed circuit position, means to actuate the latch upon the occurrence of abnormal circuit conditions, and an actuating lever whereby the breaker may be manually operated, said lever having lost motion only when said leveris in closed circuit position means for guiding the bridging element and latch in a direction substantially at right angles to the alignment of the spaced contact, means tending to withdraw the bridging member from closed circuit position, means to actuate the latch upon the occurrence of abnormal circuit conditions, an

actuating lever whereby the bridging member may be manually operated, said lever having lost motion only when the lever is in closed circuit position whereby the lever will have limited free movement prior to having any action on the means for actuating said bridging member.

WALTER S. MAYER. 

